Restaurants in Stanton

The Duncombe Arms

An absolutely outstanding dining experience!

The Duncombe Arms in Ellastone is, without question, one of the best restaurants I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. From the exceptional food and impeccable service to the wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, everything about our visit was simply outstanding.

The food was genuinely exceptional. Between our party, we enjoyed the soufflé, French onion soup, steak and chips, sticky toffee pudding, crumble and cheese platter, and every single dish was faultless.

The soufflé was beautifully risen, golden and wonderfully presented, with a rich, creamy sauce that made it look every bit as indulgent as it tasted. The French onion soup was packed with flavour, rich and comforting, accompanied by perfectly toasted bread. The steak was cooked beautifully, served with a delicious sauce, crisp golden chips and fresh salad. A fantastic example of how a classic dish can be elevated through quality ingredients and excellent cooking.

And then there were the desserts! The sticky toffee pudding was absolutely superb, generously coated in a rich toffee sauce and topped with ice cream. The crumble was equally delicious, wonderfully comforting and indulgent. The cheese platter was beautifully presented, with a lovely selection of cheeses and accompaniments. Every course demonstrated real care, skill and attention to detail.

What made the experience even more special, however, was the service. The staff were absolutely fantastic throughout. Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable and professional, without ever being intrusive or making us feel rushed. There’s a real art to delivering service of this standard while maintaining such a welcoming and informal atmosphere, and the team here have mastered it.

It’s also the thoughtful little touches that really set a restaurant apart. Our dog was made to feel just as welcome as we were, even receiving complimentary biscuits, which was a lovely gesture. One of our party was celebrating a birthday, and the restaurant surprised them with a beautifully presented complimentary birthday dessert, complete with a personalised chocolate message. Such a thoughtful touch and one that made the occasion feel genuinely special.

The atmosphere deserves a mention too. Despite the exceptional standard of food and service, there was nothing pretentious or overly formal about the experience. It was warm, inviting and wonderfully relaxed, allowing us to simply enjoy fantastic food, great company and the occasion itself.

I’ve eaten at some excellent restaurants over the years, but the Duncombe Arms really is something special. It’s rare to find somewhere that gets absolutely everything right, from the first course to the final little gesture of hospitality.

An exceptional restaurant, an exceptional team and an experience we won’t forget. I genuinely cannot recommend the Duncombe Arms highly enough. We will absolutely be returning, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who appreciates outstanding food and genuine hospitality.

A very well-deserved five stars. If I could give more, I would!